Lamborghini's restoration division celebrates Miura's 50th birthday

Lamborghini's restoration division celebrates Miura's 50th birthday

The iconic Lamborghini Miura supercar turns 50 this year. To celebrate, the Italian automaker's historical restoration division has unveiled a green Miura that looks like it could have just left the factory.

On show this weekend at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in Florida, the Miura SV, or SuperVeloce, is an especially significant model. This green classic is actually the pre-production SV that set the stage for the more powerful model that followed up on the earlier Miura S.

This particular car was displayed at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show on the Bertone stand. In an interesting twist of fate, the Lamborghini stand was more focused on the then-new Countach debut.

The automaker says it closely consulted period photography and documentation to restore or replace every component.

Finished today as it was in 1971 in Verde Metallizata over tan leather, the car is a virtual time warp.

The Miura is historically significant beyond Lamborghini's gates, as well. At the time the fastest road-going car available, it shocked audiences in 1966 with its mid-engined configuration and svelte design.